Wars, conflicts, disputes and political upheavels are expected to take a respite as the most passionate of sports comes knocking in the form of the football World Cup final between heavyweights Argentina and France in Qatar today.
If the whole world does not come to a standstill, the continents of America and Europe will, as all eyes will be focussed on two men of contrasting styles, Lionel Messi the world’s most famous Argentinian super star sportsman and Kylie Mbappe, France’s most sought after deliverer.
For Messi who has taken football to more people than any other in modern history it could be his farewell international match after as many as five appearances in the ultimate global showpiece while Mbappe showcases the future of world football making both men the hottest two men on the planet at the moment.
The two super heroes will have much to prove and live up to the expectations of not just Argentina and France but billions of followers world wide from the poorest of shanty towns to the opulence of glorious palaces.
But apart from the two top dogs of football, Argentina and France will also have to prove to the world that they deserve their slots in the final showdown after one of the most heart-stopping and minefield-ridden routes to the final curtain call.
Undoubtedly both Argentina and France can stake their claims to the final ahead of all other teams that fell by the wayside as they overcame some of the most challenging and gruelling moments in football making it an occasion not to be missed.
For the record Argentina had the bumpiest of starts that brought them down with a thud at the hands of underdogs Saudi Arabia that left many wondering whether they could recover to give their charismatic captain Lionel Messi the farewell that he was longing for and truly deserves.
That Argentina regrouped and returned with their new young flames to rally around their master, spoke a volume that the south Americans are in the final for a reason and so much more to prove.
France on the other hand have been playing some straight forward clinical football and entered the final after being stretched to the limits by the enterprising Moroccans in the semi finals and like Argentina deserve their place in the final.
They will have more work in defending their territory as they will have in making inroads into Argentina’s domain. What is left to be seen is who gets to score first that will set the course and probably decide the outcome of a match that is too close to call.
